Get unlimited access to everything VICE has to offer.

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

4 Magazines Delivered to Your Door

Every Weird French Carnival Needs Its Queen

Luckily, photographer Romain Ruiz, on his continuing odyssey through bizarre French folk traditions, is on-hand to capture them.

Share on X (Opens in new window)X

Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook

Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard

French photographer Romain Ruiz revels in the Gallic strangeness of his homeland, and has been documenting it in his ongoing folk series, France Parallax.

One ongoing project within the series documents the female figures in popular French folk events. Ruiz has visited coronation galas, carnivals, parades, flower parades, agricultural fairs, religious festivals, funfairs, and patronal feasts—events exemplifying both local pride and gendered beauty standards.

Ruiz’ latest project examines the evolution of these traditions in the contemporary era, at a time when discourse around beauty standards is inescapable (see: looksmaxxing). As Ruiz says on the queens: “It is precisely because it still holds meaning that it deserves to be documented and questioned.” We rang up Ruiz to chat about his latest work.

VICE: Do these queen-centric folk events date back to medieval times, or are they more recent?Romain Ruiz: It depends on the celebration; sometimes medieval, sometimes recent. But the Queen of Carnival dates back to ancient times. Back then, it was a way to turn power upside down for one night by electing a king or........

© Vice